Educational apparatus

ABSTRACT

Educational apparatus including a block having a planar surface formed with a square array of holes therein. A card having indicia representing an educational problem is positioned on the planar surface and fixed thereto by a pair of pins inserted through a pair of holes in the card in registration with two of the holes in the square array on the planar surface of the block. Positioning of the pins fixes a code for choosing the correct answer to the problem displayed on the card. An answer to the problem is chosen by selecting an answer card having appropriate indicia thereon from the plurality of cards and superimposing the answer card on the problem card. The answer card selected, if correct, will have a pair of holes which register with the pins extending through the problem card to establish and immediately visually indicate to the student the correctness of the selection of his answer. If the holes on the answer card are not in registration with the pins, the student will have an indication of an incorrect answer and must select another answer card until registration is accomplished. The problem and answer cards are transparent so that their positioning on the planar surface of the block may be interchanged with the result that the answer card may become a problem card and the problem card the answer card, respectively.

United States Patent [191 Weinstein EDUCATIONAL APPARATUS [76] Inventor:Harold Weinstein, 1820 Avenue V,

Brooklyn, NY. 11229 [22] Filed: Oct. 16, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 297,615

Primary Examinerl-Iarland S. Skogquist [5 7] ABSTRACT Educationalapparatus including a block. having a planar surface formed with asquare array of holes 1' Mar. 5, 1974 therein. A card having indiciarepresenting an educational problem is positioned on the planar surfaceand fixed thereto by a pair of pins inserted through a pair of holes inthe card in registration with two of the holes in the square array onthe planar surface of the block. Positioning of the pins fixes a codefor choosing the correct answerto the problem displayed on the card. Ananswer to the problem is chosen by selecting an answer card havingappropriate indicia thereon from the plurality of cards andsuperimposing the answer card on the problem card. The answer cardselected, if correct, will have a pair of holes which register with thepins extending through the problem card to establish and immediatelyvisually indicate to the student the correctness of the selection of hisanswer. 1f the holes on the answer card are not in registration with thepins, the student will have an indication of an incorrect answer andmust select another answer card until registration is accomplished. Theproblem and answer cards are transparent so that their positioning onthe planar surface of the block may be inter changed with the resultthat the answer card may become a problem card and the problem card theanswer card, respectively. t

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures EDUCATIONAL APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to aneducational game or apparatus primarily intended as an aid for teachingchildren the alphabet by associating familiar objects with the initialletter of that objects name, although it will become apparenthereinafter that the apparatus of the invention is not limited thereto.

2. Description of the Prior Art It has heretofore been proposed to teachchildren how to associate letters or words with familiar objects by theuse of educational games. Types of such games are illustrated in U.S.Pat. Nos. 2,839,843, 2,505,230, and 2,656,617, as well as my own priorUS. Pat. No. 3,609,877.

Coded blocks in the form of letters and numerals are provided. The codeis applied to a different or numeral as a distinctive array of pegsextending from one surface of the block.

A card containing a pictorial representation of a familiar object isusually provided for use with the coded letters and numerals. Each cardcontains groups of holes, each group of holes being in a distinctivearray corresponding to an array of pegs on a particular letter ornumeral block. 4

The object is for the child to attempt to complete a problem by, forexample, spelling the word which identifies or is the familiar name ofthe object pictorially represented on the card by putting the correctblocks in precise order on the card to spell the name of the familiarobject which has been pictorially represented. If the child correctlyspells the name of the object, each block will fit in the card. If anyparticular letter which has been selected is incorrect, the code pegsextending from the surface of the block will not match the array ofholes provided on the card as the child attempts to push the block intothe card thereby indicating that an incorrect letter has been selected.

The present invention extends this concept further by enabling thestudent not only to visually associate pictorial representations offamiliar objects with a letter of the alphabet by the use of a pegcoding system enabling the student to self-correct errors, but one inwhich pegs are manually disposed in coded relation by the studenthimself, which helps the young student to develop coordination and alsomaking the educational apparatus of the present invention moreinteresting and fun to use, as well as accomplishing its primaryeducational function.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I In carrying out the objects of the presentinvention a block is provided having a square array of holes formed inone planar surface thereof which is adapted to receive in overlyingrelation a problem card and one of a plurality of answer cards each ofwhich carry indicia representing an educational problem and a purportedanswer to the problem, respectively. Only one of the answer cardscontains the correct answer.

The problem card is approximately twice the width of the answer card andis positioned on the planar receiving surface of the block. Code marks,such as a pair of holes, are formed on the right half of the problemcard so that they will register with a pair of holes in the square arrayof holes on the underneath block. A pair of pins are inserted throughthe holes in the problem card into the block and establish a code forthe correct answer to the problem posed as well as fixing the problemcard in position on the block. The indicia posing the problem on theproblem card is arranged to appear on the left half of the problem card.

The studuent then selects an answer card containing indicia which hefeels is an answer to the problem posed by the indicia on the problemcard. The answer card also has two holes arranged about its periphery,which if the answer card selected is correct, will register with thepins inserted through the problem card into the block. If an incorrectanswer card is selected, the holes will be out of register with the pinsand cannot be placed in overlying relationship with the problem card sothat the indicia on the answer card is in juxtaposition with the indiciaon the left half of the problem card.

The answer and problem cards are also formed from transparent materialthus making it possible for the positioning of the cards on the block tobe reversed. In this manner, the answer card can be used as the prob-.lem card, and vice-versa.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from the following specifications andclaims and from the accompanying drawings wherein:

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing indetail wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout theseveral' views, FIG. 1 illustrates the educational apparatus of thepresent invention indicated generally by the numeral 10. Apparatus 10includes a rectangular block 12 of wood, plastic or metal, as desired.Block 12 is provided with a planar surface 14 forreceiving a flatproblem card 16 and a planar answer card 18 in overlying relationship.

Planar surface 14 of block 12 includes a pair of upstanding pegs 20 and22 adjacent its opposite edges. A square array of holes 24 are alsoformed in the righthand portion of planar surface 14 of block 12.

Problem card 16 is approximately of the same size as the planar surface14 of block 12 and includes a pictorial representation 26 of an objectwhich is to be identifled by the student using the apparatus. Pictorialrepresentation 26 is positioned on the lefthand half of problem card 16.

Immediately above and below pictorial representation 26 are holes 28 and30 which are adapted to re- .ceive pegs 20 and 22, respectively,extending upwardly in the square array of holes 24 formed in planarsurface 14 of block '12.

When card 16 is disposed on planar surface 14 of block 12 with pegs 20and 22 extending through holes 28 and 30 respectively, a pair ofelongated pins 36 and 38 can be placed by the student through the holes32, 34 on the problem card in registration with the holes 24 in theplanar surface 14 of block 12 so as to further fix problem card 16 inposition and to set up a visual indication of a correct code forreceiving the correct answer card on the problem card 16.

Answer card 18 contains a letter of the alphabet corresponding to thefirst letter-of the name of the object pictorially represented on 26 onthe problem card 16. This is provided by imprinting indicia 40 on theanswer card. As will be apparent from FIG. 1, answer card 18 isapproximately one-half the width of problem card 16 and is adapted to beplaced in overlying relationship on the right half of problem card 16 sothat its indica 40 is in juxtaposition to the pictorial representation26.

Answer card 18 is also provided with a pair of holes 42 and 44. If theindicia 40 represents a correct answer to the problem posed by thepictorial representation 26 on problem card 16, holes 42 and 44 willregister with holes 32 and 34, respectively, on the problem card 16 andwill enable insertion of answer card 18 over pins 36 and 38; If answercard 18 chosen from the multitude of answer cards provided is incorrect,holes 42 and 44 will not register with pins 36 and 38, therebyimmediately visually informing the student that the answer card 18selected was incorrect and the association made between the pictorialrepresentation 26 and indicum 40 should be attempted again by the use ofa different answer card 18.

FIG. 2 illustrates such an incorrect association. Problem card 16 inFIG. 2 carries a pictorial representation 26 of an owl, therebyindicating that the student is to select an answer card 18 whose indicum40 should be letter O." The student, however, has selected an ans swercard 18 with the indicum 4O presenting the letter W. Accordingly, holes42 and 44 on answer card 18 will not align or be in registration withholes 32 and 34 on the problem card 16 although hole 42 and hole 32 maybe in registration. It is absolutely essential that bothholes are inregistration for pins 36 and 38 to allow insertion of answer card 18into overlying relation with problem card 16 so that indicum 40 is injuxtaposition with the pictorial representation 26 FIG. 3 illustratesthe correct association of an answer card 18 bearing the indicum 40 ofO, with problem card 16. As shown in FIG. 3, when answer card 18selectedis correct, both pins 36 and 38 will extend through the holes 42 and 44on the answer card 18.

Although it is not necessary, it is preferable that both the answer card18 and problem card 16 are formed from transparent material. As pointedout previously, the problem card 16 has approximately twice the widthof-the answer card 18 and the pictorial representation 26 on the problemcard 16 is on the lefthand half of the card. The answer card is adaptedto overliethe problem card on the block on the righthand half thereof sothat the indiciathereon are presented in tandem read-- ing relation; Theproblem and answer cards-are formed from transparent material so thatthe problem and answer cards may be interchanged in their respectivepositioning on the block 12. In this case, the answer card 18 ispositioned first on the block 12 and will be visible through therighthand half of the problem card 16 which has no indicia thereon,enabling the problem and answer cards to become answer and problem cardsrespectively. In other words, in the example given, by positioninganswer card 18 first on the planar surface 14 I of the block 12 and theninserting pins 36 and 38 through holes 42 and 44, respectively, thecorrect code will be established and the student will be asked toassociate the letter indicum 40 with a plurality of pictorialrepresentations 26 which corresponds to the indicum 40 on the answercard 18. 7

While the invention has been illustrated as an effectlve tool to teach achild the alphabet, it should be understood that it can be used to teachthe child any association of words and picturesand to aid in thespelling of words represented by familiar objects or even arithmeticproblems which may be posed on problem card 16, the answer beingprovided on answer card 18. Problems of spelling or arithmetic may beposed as indicum 26 and the correct solution given by indicum 40.

What is claimed is: 1. Educational apparatus comprising:

block means having a surface for receiving at least two cards inoverlying relationship;

, one of said cards having indicia thereon representing an educationalproblem, the other of said cards having indicia thereon representing theanswer to said educational problem, the indicia on said cards when saidcards are placed on said block means providing a visual representationto the student of the educational problem represented thereon and thepurported correct answer thereto, and

code means on each of said cards and block means for enabling thestudent to check the correctness of the answer selected to. theeducational problem posed by the indicia on said one card, said codemeans including an array of holes formed in the receiving surface ofsaid block means, i

at least two holes forming code marks on said card posing saideducational problem corresponding to and in registration with twoholes'in said array of holes formed in the receiving surface of saidblock means,

removable pin means for insertion through said holes in registration insaid problem card and said block means, and

the other of said cards containing said indicia purporting to be ananswer to the educational problem posed by the indicia on said problemcard containing code marks in the form of at least two holes which ifthe indicia on said answer card represents the correct answer to theindicia posing the problem on said problem card will register with saidpin means inserted through the holes in said problem 'card and blockmeans, and if incorrect, will not. 2. Educational apparatus inaccordance with claim 1 wherein:

said problem card has approximately twice the width of said answer cardand the indicia on said problem card ison one half thereof, the answercard being adapted to overlie said problem card on said block means onthe half thereof having no indicia thereon so as to present the problemand answer thereto in tandem reading relation, and

3. Educational apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein: I

said array of holes formedin said receiving surface on said block meansis in a square array and the code holes on said cards correspond to atleast two positions of the holes in said square array on said blockmeans.

1. Educational apparatus comprising: block means having a surface forreceiving at least two cards in overlying relationship; one of saidcards having indicia thereon representing an educational problem, theother of said cards having indicia thereon representing the answer tosaid educational problem, the indicia on said cards when said cards areplaced on said block means providing a visual representation to thestudent of the educational problem represented thereon and the purportedcorrect answer thereto, and code means on each of said cards and blockmeans for enabling the student to check the correctness of the answerselected to the educational problem posed by the indicia on said onecard, said code means including an array of holes formed in thereceiving surface of said block means, at least two holes forming codemarks on said card posing said educational problem corresponding to andin registration with two holes in said array of holes formed in thereceiving surface of said block means, removable pin means for insertionthrough said holes in registration in said problem card and said blockmeans, and the other of said cards containing said indicia purporting tobe an answer to the educational problem posed by the indicia on saidproblem card containing code marks in the form of at least two holeswhich if the indicia on said answer card represents the correct answerto the indicia posing the problem on said problem card will registerwith said pin means inserted through the holes in said problem card andblock means, and if incorrect, will not.
 2. Educational apparatus inaccordance with claim 1 wherein: said problem card has approximatelytwice the width of said answer card and the indicia on said problem cardis on one half thereof, the answer card being adapted to overlie saidproblem card on said block means on the half thereof having no indiciathereon so as to present the problem and answer thereto in tandemreading relation, and said problem and answer cards are formed fromtransparent material, whereby said problem and answer cards may beinterchanged in their respective positioning on said block means so thatsaid problem and answer cards may become answer and problem cardsrespectively because the answer card if positioned first on said blockmeans will be visible through the half of the problem card having noindicia thereon.
 3. Educational apparatus in accordance with claim 2wherein: said array of holes formed in said receiving surface on saidblock means is in a square array and the code holes on said cardscorrespond to at least two positions of the holes in said square arrayon said block means.